Hong Kong government to introduce stricter fitness checks for commercial drivers

A government proposal to tighten physical fitness requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in Hong Kong will be introduced to the legislature no later than the first quarter of next year, according to the city’s transport minister.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also said on Saturday that physical fitness checks could include tests for hearing and screening for conditions such as dementia, as well as stricter eye examinations.

Chan’s remarks followed renewed calls for stricter health checks for older drivers after a taxi, driven by an 80-year-old, hit and killed a Filipino tourist on Tuesday.

The government submitted recommendations to the Legislative Council in May 2023, proposing that commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 or above should submit a fitness certificate annually to renew their driving licences, but the proposal was delayed.

“After consulting the Legislative Council, our work has never stopped,” Chan said, adding that authorities had met different sectors to gather their opinions on the government’s proposal.

“We are entering the final stage, but there are a lot of detailed areas that we hope we could streamline further.

“We really hope that we can submit the proposal no later than the first quarter of next year. But if we can speed up the process, we will communicate with the legislature to see if we can legislate the proposal earlier, so our preparatory work can be more solid.”